25/08/2026
Yesterday marked our third and final takeover at saunatheatre, bringing a little Soul Water Sauna magic to Edinburgh Fringe audiences.
Together we travelled through stories, poetry and immersive experiences, beginning with Salt and Steam, the film we produced last year exploring the history of sweat bathing in the UK. We then moved through Nordic sauna traditions before arriving at Imbas: Voyage Home; a mythological remembering of a seeker’s journey, woven together with the tale of the Cailleach from Celtic folklore.
We finished on a high with Choose Longevity by Mika Meskanen, first created for Soul Gathering last year, before turning up the music for a joyful dance party.
What a beautiful few weeks of creativity, connection and collaboration. We’re so grateful to our incredible sauna hosts who brought these experiences to life, and to Sauna Sessions and the team at Sauna Theatre for making it all possible.
Salt & Steam was written and directed by Katharine O’Donnelly, produced by Kirsty Carver, with cinematography by Mike Guest, editing by Annabel Moodie, and music from Lucy Callen (Veil) and Laura Foon (First Löyly and Kiitos).
If you haven’t visited yet, there’s still time to experience this unique Fringe creation.
Thank you to Natalie, Brendan, Gunnar, Simone, Gemma, Natasha, Ula, Harris, Stacy, Meg, and everyone else who helped create something truly special. ❤️
And a special thank you to Fleur Stonehouse (), whose creative guidance and support helped shape The Cailleach and Imbas: Voyage Home, bringing depth and cohesion
to the experience.
